NON-NATIVE INVASIVE PLANTS OF ARLINGTON COUNTY, VIRGINIA

While up to 40% of the plants found in a typical urban environment are non-native species, a relatively small number of these “alien” plants are known to represent an ecological threat to the natural environment (parks, woodlands, and backyards). Known as “invasive species”, these non-natives will spread from urban plantings into natural areas, eliminate native species, alter natural plant communities, and degrade the environment. The following plants have been documented as invasive species in Arlington. Known invasive plant species should not be planted as part of any Arlington County sponsored project. This list will be periodically reviewed by the Invasive Plant Coordinator (DPR) and updated by Version (date).

Invasive Plant Species List Acer spp.: campestre, tataricum var. ginnala Hedge, Amur maple Threat Acer spp.: palmatum, plantanoides, pseudoplatanus Japanese, Norway, Sycamore maple Invasive Actinidia arguta Hardy kiwi Threat Aegopodium podagraria Goutweed Invasive Agrostis capillaris Colonial bent-grass Invasive Ailanthus altissima Tree of Heaven Invasive Akebia quinata Five-leaved akebia Invasive Albizia julibrissin Mimosa Invasive Aldrovanda vesiculosa* Waterwheel Threat Alliaria petiolata Garlic mustard Invasive Alternanthera philoxeroides Alligator weed Invasive Ampelopsis brevipedunculata Porcelainberry Invasive Aralia elata Japanese angelica tree Invasive Artemisia vulgaris Mugwort Invasive Arthraxon hispidus var. hispidus Hairy jointgrass Invasive Arum italicum Italian arum Invasive Arundo donax Giant reed Invasive Bambusa spp.: vulgaris Exotic, common bamboo Invasive Berberis spp.: julianae, thunbergii Wintergreen, common barberry Invasive Buddleia davidii and hybrids Butterfly bush Invasive Carduus nutans Musk thistle Invasive Celastrus orbiculata Asian bittersweet Invasive Centaurea spp. Knapweed Invasive Cirsium spp.: arvense, vulgare Canada, Bull thistle Invasive Clematis terniflora DC Sweet autumn clematis Invasive Commelina communis Common dayflower Invasive Convallaria majalis European lily of the valley Threat Coronilla varia Crown-vetch Invasive Cynanchum spp.: louiseae, rossicum, vincetoxicumx Black, European, white swallowwort Threat Cyrtomium falcatum Japanese net-veined holly fern Threat Dioscorea spp.: oppositifolia, polystachya Chinese yam, Cinnamon vine Invasive Dipsacus fullonum Wild Teasel Invasive Duchesnea indica Indian strawberry Invasive Egeria densa Brazilian Waterweed Threat Eichhornia crassipes* Water Hyacinth Threat Elaeagnus spp.: pungens, umbellata Thorny, Autumn olive Invasive Eleagnus angustifolia Russian olive Threat Eleutherococcus sieboldianus Five-leaf aralia Invasive Epipactis helleborine Helleborine orchid Invasive Eragrostis curvula Weeping lovegrass Invasive Euonymus spp.: alatus, fortunei Burning bush, Wintercreeper Invasive Ficaria verna Lesser Celandine Invasive Frangula alnus Glossy buckthorn Threat Glechoma hederacea Ground ivy Invasive Hedera spp.: helix, hibernica English, Atlantic ivy Invasive Hemerocallis fulva Common daylily Invasive Heracleum mantegazzianum* Giant Hogweed Threat Hibiscus syriacus Rose of Sharon Invasive Holcus lanatus Common Velvet Grass Threat Humulus japonicus Japanese hops Invasive Hydrilla verticillata Hydrilla Invasive Ilex crenata Japanese holly Invasive Ilex spp.: aquifolium, cornuta, English, Chinese holly Threat Imperata spp.: brasiliensis, brevifolia, cylindrical Brazilian, California satintail, cogongrass Threat Ipomoea aquatica* Water spinach Threat Iris pseudocorus Yellow flag iris Invasive Kalopanax septemlobus Castor aralia Invasive Koelreuteria paniculata Laxm. Golden raintree Invasive Kummerowia spp.: stipulacea, striata Korean, Japanese clover Invasive Lamiastrum galeobdolon Yellow archangel Invasive Lespedeza spp.: bicolor, cuneata Shrubby, Chinese bushclover Invasive Ligustrum spp.: obtusifolium var. obtusifolium, Border, Chinese, California, European Invasive sinense, ovalifolium, vulgare privet Ligustrum spp.: amurense, lucidum, quihoui Amur, glossy, waxyleaf privet Threat Liriope spp.: muscari, spicata Big blue lilyturf, creeping liriope Invasive Lonicera spp.: fragrantissima, japonica, maackii, Sweet breath of spring, Japanese, Amur Invasive morrowii, tatarica, x bella bush, Morrow’s, Tartarian, Bell's honeysuckle Lonicera spp.: caprifolium, xylosteum Italian, dwarf honeysuckle Threat Ludwigia grandiflora ssp. hexapetala* Large flower primrose willow Threat Lunaria annua Money plant Invasive Lysimachia nummularia Moneywort Invasive Lythrum salicaria Purple loosestrife Invasive Mahonia bealei Leatherleaf mahonia Invasive Malus spp.: baccata, floribunda, hupehensis Siberian, Japanese, Tea crabapple Invasive Malus spp.: prunifolia, sylvestris, toringo Plumleaf, European, Japanese crabapple Threat Melia azedarach Chinaberry Threat Microstegium vimineum Japanese stiltgrass Invasive Miscanthus sacchariflorus Maiden grass Threat Miscanthus sinensis Chinese silvergrass Invasive Morus alba White mulberry Invasive Murdannia keisak Marsh dayflower Invasive Myriophyllum spp.: aquaticum, spicatum Parrot feather, European water-milfoil Invasive Najas minor Brittle Naiad Threat Nandina domestica Heavenly bamboo Invasive Oenanthe javanica Java dropwort Invasive Ophiopogon japonicus Mondo Grass Threat Oplismenus hirtellus ssp. undulatifolius* Wavyleaf Grass Threat Osmanthus heterophyllus Holly osmanthus Invasive Pachysandra terminalis Japanese pachysandra Invasive Parthenocissus tricuspidata Boston ivy Threat Paulownia tomentosa Princess tree Invasive Pennisetum spp.: alopecuroides, setaceum Fountain, Crimson fountain grass Invasive Perilla frutescens Beefsteak plant Invasive Persicaria spp.: longiseta, perfoliata Long-bristled smartweed, Mile-a-minute Invasive Phellodendron amurense Phellodendron Invasive Phellodendron japanicum Japanese corktree Threat Philadelphus spp. Mock orange Invasive Phleum pratense Timothy Invasive Photinia villosa Oriental photinia Threat Phragmites australis ssp. australis Common reed Invasive Phyllostachys spp.: aurea, aureosulcata. Golden, yellow groove bamboo Invasive Picia abies Norway spruce Threat Poa spp.: compressa, trivialis Flat-stemmed, Rough Bluegrass Invasive Polygonum spp.: cespitosum, cuspidatum Bristled, Japanese knotweed Invasive Polygonum orientale Kiss me over the garden gate Threat Populus alba White poplar Threat Prunus spp.: avium, subhirtella Sweet, Higan cherry Invasive Prunus spp.: cerasus, mahaleb, padus Sour, Mahaleb, European bird cherry Threat Pseudosasa japonica Arrow bamboo Invasive Pueraria montana var. lobata Kudzu Invasive Pyracantha spp.: angustifolia, coccinea, crenulata, Narrowleaf, scarlet, Nepalese, firethorn Threat koidzumii Pyrus betulifolia Birchleaf Threat Pyrus calleryana Bradford pear Invasive Quercus acutissima Sawtooth oak Threat Reynoutria japonica Japanese knotweed Invasive Rhamnus cathartica Common buckthorn Threat Rhodotypos scandens Jetbead Invasive Ribes rubrum Cultivated currant Invasive Rosa multiflora Multiflora rose Invasive Rosa spp.: Bracteata, canina, eglanteria, gallica, Macartney, dog, sweetbriar, French, Threat micrantha, rugosa, wichuraiana smallflower sweetbrier, Seaside, memorial Rubus phoenicolasius Wineberry Invasive Rumex spp.:acetosella, crispus ssp. crispus Sheep sorrel, Curly dock Invasive Sagina procumbens Pearlwort Invasive Salix babylonia madsudana, sepulcralis Chinese, Weeping willow Invasive Salvinia molesta* Giant Salvinia Threat Scilla siberica Siberian squill Threat Securigera varia Crown-vetch Invasive Solanum viarum* Tropical Soda Apple Threat Sophora (Styphnolobium) japonicum (L.) Schott Pagoda tree Invasive Sorghum halepense Johnson grass Invasive Spiraea japonica Japanese spiraea Invasive Stellaria media Common Chickweed Invasive Taxus cuspidata Sieb. & Zucc. Japanese yew Threat Thymus praecox Creeping thyme Threat Ulmus spp.: parvifolia, pumila Chinese, Siberian elm Invasive Urtica dioica European Stinging Nettle Invasive Viburnum spp.: dilatatum, plicatum var. Linden, Double-file, tea viburnum Invasive tomentosum, setigerum Veronica hederifolia Ivy-leaved Speedwell Invasive Viburnum lantana, opulus var. opulus, sieboldii Wayfaring tree, European cranberrybush, Threat Siebold viburnum Vinca spp.: major, minor Big leaf periwinkle, periwinkle Invasive Wisteria spp.: floribunda, sinensis Japanese, Chinese wisteria Invasive Zelkova serrata Japanese zelkova Threat

Please note that the plants listed above are known to be invasive locally. Additional plant species may be documented as invasive in other locales or represent potential invasive species. A number of public agencies, universities, and conservation non-profit organizations are currently documenting and tracking the spread of non-native invasive species across the country. As field research continues, the number of identified invasive species will increase. In order to insure that the use of invasive species is avoided, a number of data sources are available for vetting purposes. The following PDF files and internet links are considered reliable information resources:  Invasive Alien Plant Species of Virginia (DCR) http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/natural_heritage/documents/nh-invasive-plant-list-2014.pdf  Terrestrial Invasive Plants of the Potomac River Watershed – Nature Conservancy. www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/maryland/news/news2699.html  Invasive Plant Atlas of the United States – Center for Invasive Species Ecosystem Health, University of Georgia. www.invasiveplantatlas.org/index.html  Mid-Atlantic Exotic Pest Plant Council. http://www.ma-eppc.org/  Invasive Plant Atlas of New England. http://nbiinin.ciesin.columbia.edu/ipane/ipanespecies/ipanespecies.htm  Southeast Exotic Pest Plant Council. http://www.se-eppc.org/

Citation:

Zell, G. 2012. Non-native invasive plants of Arlington County, Virginia. Department of Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Resources. Arlington, Virginia. 4 (Version 02-21-13)